Fort William (Scots Gaelic: An Gearasdan, "The Garrison") is the largest town in the west highlands of Scotland. Originally based around the still-extant village of Inverlochy, the town lies at the southern end of the Great Glen, on the shores of Loch Linnhe and Loch Eil. It is close to Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the British Isles, and the beautiful Glen Nevis. The town is a major tourist centre with Glen Coe just to the south, and Glenfinnan to the west, on the Road to the Isles. It is an important centre for hillwalking and climbing due to its proximity to Ben Nevis and other mountains. It is also well known for its nearby famous Downhill Mountain Bike Track and its connection to the Great Glen Way; a cycle way from Inverness to Fort William through the Great Glen. The United Kingdom House of Commons is made up of Members of Parliament (MPs). ... Ross, Skye and Lochaber is a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. ... For the national legislative body up to 1707, see Parliament of Scotland. ... Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament. ... This is a list of Members of the European Parliament for the United Kingdom in the 2004 to 2009 session, ordered by name. ... Scotland constitutes a single constituency of the European Parliament. ... List of burghs in Scotland List of cities in the United Kingdom Lists of places within Scottish regions List of places in Orkney List of places in Shetland List of places in the Borders region of Scotland List of places in the Central region of Scotland List of places in... // Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) is a member of the Goidelic branch of Celtic languages. ... Lowland-Highland divide Highland Sign with welcome in English and Gaelic The Scottish Highlands (A Ghàidhealtachd in Gaelic) include the rugged and mountainous regions of Scotland north and west of the Highland Boundary Fault. ... This article is about the country. ... The term Battle of Inverlochy may refer to: Battle of Inverlochy (1431) Battle of Inverlochy (1645) This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... The Great Glen, also known as Glen Albyn or Glen Mor is a series of valleys in Scotland running 100 kilometres from Inverness on the Moray Firth to Fort William at the head of Loch Linnhe. ... Loch Linnhe is a sea loch on the west coast of Scotland. ... Loch Eil (Scottish Gaelic, Loch Iall) is a sea loch in Lochaber, Scotland that opens into Loch Linnhe at Fort William. ... Ben Nevis (Gaelic: Beinn Nibheis) is the highest mountain in the British Isles. ... This article describes the archipelago in north-Western Europe. ... Glen Nevis is a beautiful glen in Lochaber, Scotland, with Fort William at its foot. ... A tourist boat travels the River Seine in Paris, France Tourism can be defined as the act of travel for the purpose of recreation, and the provision of services for this act. ... Glen Coe is a glen in the Highlands of Scotland. ... Memorial to the Jacobites, at Glenfinnan, Lochaber. ... The A830, sometimes known as the Road to the Isles although in reality it forms only a part of that historic route, is a road in the Highlands of Scotland, which connects the town of Fort William to the port of Mallaig. ... Hillwalking or fellwalking is the recreational practice of hiking in mountainous terrain. ... Rock climbers on Valkyrie at The Roaches in Staffordshire, England. ... Ben Nevis (Gaelic: Beinn Nibheis) is the highest mountain in the British Isles. ... The Great Glen Way is a long distance footpath in Scotland. ... This article is about the city in Scotland. ... The Great Glen, also known as Glen Albyn or Glen Mor is a series of valleys in Scotland running 100 kilometres from Inverness on the Moray Firth to Fort William at the head of Loch Linnhe. ...

History

Historically, this area of Lochaber was strongly Cameron country, and there were a number of mainly Cameron settlements in the area (such as Blarmacfoldach). The nearby settlement of Inverlochy was the main settlement in the area before the building of the fort, and was also site of the Battle of Inverlochy. Lochaber (Scottish Gaelic, Loch Abar) refers to a large area of the central and western Scottish Highlands. ... Clan Cameron is a West Highland Scottish clan, with one main branch Lochiel, and numerous cadet branches such as Erracht, Clunes, Glen Nevis, and Fassifern. ... Blarmacfoldach (or Blar mac Faoltaich) is a small crofting settlement in Scotland, in the Mamore Hills between Fort William and Kinlochleven. ... The term Battle of Inverlochy may refer to: Battle of Inverlochy (1431) Battle of Inverlochy (1645) This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...

Fort William from Loch Linnhe.

However, the town is not of local origin. It grew up as a settlement next to a fort constructed to control the population after Oliver Cromwell's invasion during the English Civil War, and then to suppress the Jacobite uprisings of the 18th century. The fort was named "Fort William"' after William Of Orange, and the settlement that grew around it was called "Maryburgh", after his wife. This settlement was later renamed "Gordonsburgh", and then "Duncansburgh" [1] (see burgh) before being renamed "Fort William", this time after "Butcher" Cumberland. Given these origins, there have been various suggestions over the years to rename the town (for example, to "Invernevis"). These proposals have led to nothing as of yet. Fort William seen from Loch Linnhe. ... Fort William seen from Loch Linnhe. ... Loch Linnhe is a sea loch on the west coast of Scotland. ... Oliver Cromwell (25 April 1599 – 3 September 1658) was an English military and political leader best known for his involvement in making England, Scotland and Ireland into a republican Commonwealth and for the brutal war exercised in his conquest of Ireland. ... For other uses, see English Civil War (disambiguation). ... Charles Edward Stuart, Bonnie Prince Charlie, wearing the Jacobite blue bonnet Jacobitism was (and, to a very limited extent, remains) the political movement dedicated to the restoration of the Stuart kings to the thrones of England and Scotland. ... (17th century - 18th century - 19th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 18th century refers to the century that lasted from 1701 through 1800. ... William III King of England, Scotland and Ireland William III and II (14 November 1650–8 March 1702; also known as William Henry and William of Orange) was Prince of Orange from his birth, King of England and Ireland from 13 February 1689, and King of Scotland from 11... Mary II (30 April 1662–28 December 1694) reigned as Queen of England and Ireland from 13 February 1689, and as Queen of Scots (as Mary II of Scotland) from 11 April 1689 until her death. ... A sign in Linlithgow, Scotland. ... The Prince William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, KG, KB, PC (15 April 1721–31 October 1765), a younger son of King George II of Great Britain and Queen Caroline, was a noted military leader. ...

During World War II, Fort William was the home of HMS St Christopher which was a training base for Royal Navy Coastal Forces.

Fort William is the end point of the West Highland Way, a long distance footpath which runs 95 miles across the Scottish Highlands from Glasgow, and the start/end point of the Great Glen Way, which runs between Fort William and Inverness. The West Highland Way is a long distance footpath in Scotland. ... The Great Glen Way is a long distance footpath in Scotland. ...

Geography

Arrival at Fort William (An Gearasdan in Gaelic) of the overnight sleeper train from London

The town is centred on the High Street, which was pedestrianised in the 90s. Off this there are several squares. Monzie Square (named after the Cameron Campbells of Monzie, Perthshire, former landowners in the town), Station Square, where the long-since demolished but often lamented railway station used to be, Gordon Square (named for the Gordons, who owned land where the town now stands in the late 1700s, during which time the town was named Gordonsburgh), and Cameron Square. Image File history File links Arrival at Fort Wiliam (An Gearasdan in Gaelic) of the overnight sleeper train from London. ... Image File history File links Arrival at Fort Wiliam (An Gearasdan in Gaelic) of the overnight sleeper train from London. ... // Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) is a member of the Goidelic branch of Celtic languages. ... Map of the routes of the Caledonian Sleepers Caledonian Sleeper coaches at Fort William The Caledonian Sleeper is a sleeper train service operated by First ScotRail and one of only two remaining sleeper services running on the railways of Great Britain – the other being the Night Riviera. ...

Just outside the town is a large aluminium plant, powered by the Lochaber hydroelectric scheme, in its day the biggest tunnelling project in the world. This was formerly served by the Lochaber narrow gauge railway. General Name, symbol, number aluminium, Al, 13 Chemical series poor metals Group, period, block 13, 3, p Appearance silvery Standard atomic weight 26. ... Lochaber (Scottish Gaelic, Loch Abar) refers to a large area of the central and western Scottish Highlands. ... Hydroelectric dam diagram The waters of Llyn Stwlan, the upper reservoir of the Ffestiniog Pumped-Storage Scheme in north Wales, can just be glimpsed on the right. ... Bridge number 15 on the closed Upper Works Railway, photographed in 1995. ...

The West Highland Line passes through Fort William. Owing to the difficult terrain in the area, the line from Glasgow, to the south, enters from the northeast and trains from Glasgow to Mallaig, the terminus of the line, have to reverse at Fort William railway station. [2] The West Highland Line (Scottish Gaelic: Rathad Iarainn nan Eilean - Iron Road to the Isles) is one of the most scenic railway lines in Britain, linking the fishing port of Mallaig on the west coast to Glasgow. ... For other uses, see Glasgow (disambiguation). ... This article is about Mallaig in Scotland. ... The platforms at Fort William, viewed from the doorway to the concourse area in June 2005 Fort William railway station is a railway station serving the town of Fort William in the Highland region of Scotland. ...

The Caledonian Canal connects the Scottish east coast at Inverness with the west coast at Corpach near Fort William. The Caledonian Canal in Scotland connects the Scottish east coast at Inverness with the west coast near Fort William. ... This article is about the city in Scotland. ...

Other facts

Fort William High Street

• Each year, Fort William attracts hundreds by hosting the UCI Mountain Biking World Cup on its famous track just outside the town. In 2007 it is bringing two cruise ships into the harbour to help accommodate the many visitors.
• In a celebration of mountains and the culture that surrounds them, and in recognition of the importance of climbing and walking tourism to the town, the Fort William Mountain Film Festival is held there each year. For a number of years this volunteer led festival has concentrated mostly around film but, starting in the Year of Highland Culture - Highland 2007, its scope was widened, and it dropped the 'film' from its title. Fort William Mountain Festival website
• Fort William has two major shinty teams, Fort William Shinty Club and Kilmallie Shinty Club.
• The opening sequence for Warner Bros. 2007 film, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix was shot in Fort William.
• Fort William is home to an Outward Bound Adventure and Activity centre. Schools such as St Benedict's Ealing visit anually.

Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2576 × 1932 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2576 × 1932 pixel, file size: 1. ... Legend of the Seas moored at San Diego, California A cruise ship, or less commonly cruise liner, is a passenger ship used for pleasure voyages, where the voyage itself and the amenities of the ship are considered an essential part of the experience. ... There are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ... // A shinty game in progress Shinty (Scottish Gaelic camanachd or iomain) is a team sport played with sticks and a ball. ... Fort William Shinty Club is a shinty club from Fort William, Lochaber, Scotland. ... Kilmallie Shinty Club is a shinty team from Caol, Fort William, Scotland. ... “WB” redirects here. ... 2007 has been referred to, by film and media critics, as the year of the threequels, a nickname referring to both the 2004 summer movie season and several film franchises from that year, which again appear this year: Spider-Man 3, Shrek the Third, Oceans Thirteen, Resident Evil: Extinction... Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is a 2007 fantasy adventure film, based on the novel of the same name, by J. K. Rowling. ...

Local features

• The Underwater Centre, Fort William

References

• MacCulloch, Donald B. (1971). Romantic Lochaber. Chambers. ISBN 0-550-50347-1. 
• Census 2001. Population figures. Retrieved on August 17, 2005.

is the 229th day of the year (230th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• Visit Fort William
• Fort William - Outdoor Capital of the UK
• [3] Fort William World Mountain Biking Championships
• West Highland Railway
• Fort William Weather
• Lochaber Jobs
• Around Lochaber
• Nevis Range
• Fort William the End of the West Highland Way
• Map of Ft William and area, dated 1710
• History of HMS St Christopher

Coordinates: 56.81689° N 5.10963° W Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ...